THE TOWN'S BUSINESS IS YOUR BUSINESS: Direction From the People to Their GovernmentSilver
Anniversary Speak Up...at the Weston Library's Community Room!!! Watch the video above!!!

LWV of Weston SPEAK UP #25 - PICTURE STORY
Weston Library Community Room
Saturday, February 27, 2016; 10:30a.m. to 12:20p.m.

Joan Lewis photograph

COBB'S MILL INN: Sympathies to family of owner who passed away suddenly, information given by First Selectman with moment of silence.

PICTURE STORY HERE: This was the twenty-fifth annual event - one that is unique to Weston, CT.

17 QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS, ONE HOUR AND FIFTY MINUTES.
Before the event, before coffee, there was hope for a terrific turnout
and piercing questions. And then as copious amount of coffee
appeared, so did the crowd!!! When 12 noon came, there were still
some in a queue at the mic in the rear of the auditorium, so our
Moderator, as is done at elections, permitted all those in line at the official "end" time of the event, to get their chance to ask a question...

FYI - PLANNING AND ZONING QUESTIONS ANSWERED CAREFULLY SOME "HOW IS THAT AGAIN?" KIND OF QUESTIONS...Above, Moderator
Laura Smits handling the second question, about procedure. Town
Clerk, who knows the Charter, offered some facts. Excellent
answers by all on stage! Be sure to watch the
opening words of Weston LWV Moderator Laura Smits, who was standing up,
but in explaining Speak Up "rules" also almost doing stand up re: Politics in America 2016.

THERE WERE THEMES: Police/public safety, schools and school budget from both sides of any argument - and a new idea on housing. Did we mention that local finances played a large part?
Did we mention turnout? We had about seventeen (17) elected and
appointed officials on stage, all but 3 chairs taken plus standing room
numbers that draped around the seated audience and
extended out the Community Room and into the library proper.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT BUDGET INCREASES ALMOST SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY?
Relationship between school and town a topic that was interspersed among
other issues, lots of them, all morning...very nice review of data
previously prepared about school budgets earlier in the century. These reports were very subtle...if memory serves!

BUT YOU CAN'T BE TOO SUBTLE WHEN ANSWERING A DIRECT QUESTION...AND
2ND SELECTMAN TOLD IT LIKE IT IS...AND THEN THE FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTED
ON ACTION THURSDAY...
And there was review of previous actions by the Board of Selectmen, and reviews of Town Attorney -
defended by returning member of previous board...and explained very
clearly, to, we think, the questioner's satisfaction. It was a surprise to those who were not at the
Selectmen's meeting just 2 days before, but if new plan on renovation of
Police Station can work into existing space at Town Hall, Weston is on
the cusp of being able to fit in to historic corners and created
sidewalks linking all parts of "downtown" Weston together for foot
traffic!!!

THERE WAS A CAPACITY MAXIMUM - MEANING "SEATED." IT APPEARED
THAT EVERY AGE GROUP TOOK THEIR TURN AT THE MIC - EXCEPT FOR THE VERY
YOUNGEST, WHO APPEARED TO BE READING ON HER TABLET...We note that both advocates for and against any new zoning text
amendment to include a new "Special Permit" category for Active Adult
Community District, scheduled to come for public hearing on April 4th
before P&Z were out in representative force but only proponents
spoke.

WELL SAID BY SENATOR, AND REMINDING EVERYONE THE FEDS HAD ALREADY DONE THIS BUT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO DO IT BY CT ANYWAY.
And close to the end, Senator Boucher stood to respond to question about
dis-investment movement on the left re: State of Israel.
Last two questions involved 1)traffic light/turn signal on state highway and 2)reviving Sustainability Committee.